2020 Paves the Way to Online Learning

Did you celebrate something on February 27 or was it a very normal day? Only two weeks after the Digital Learning Day, Lebanon went through a drastic change in its education sector. Schools and universities in many countries shifted from traditional to temporary online teaching methods. With the rapid advancement in technology and the presence of so many types of digital devices, it is hard for our educational systems to stay confined to traditions. The spread of Coronavirus disease (COVID- 19) has obliged students to study online, however have they found distance learning to be as effective and interactive as proximate learning?

In theory, digital learning aims to encompass innovative teaching techniques and use various technological tools in order to provide a quality learning experience for students. The easy accessibility to open educational resources has encouraged professors to rely on digital content. During these circumstances, digital learning was considered to be the best solution to hinder prolonging the semester and the delay of the seniors’ graduation.

Online classes are convenient because it is more comfortable for students to sit down and listen to online lectures. Waking up only 10 minutes before class, students are able to learn their course materials at ease. However, digital learning doesn’t only ensure comfort. Throughout this experience, students acquire new skills. They improve their time management, learn self-motivation, and are better in handling responsibility to finish their tasks. E-learning also obliges students to become active learners rather than passive ones. Consequently, learners develop a stronger one-on-one relationship between themselves and their professors.

In practice, Lebanon’s technical capacities has prevented universities to successfully integrate online courses to our education curriculum. Weak internet connection and poor electricity have limited the functionality of online learning. This hindered digital learning to achieve a smooth communication between users. “Whenever the electricity disconnects, I lose around 10 minutes from the explanation”, one student said. Another undergraduate added: “Sometimes, I don’t understand the lesson because the professor’s voice is not clear due to bad Wi-Fi”. Other students found it difficult to stay attentive due to the lack of interactivity in some classes. Also, listening to lectures through a mobile phone in some cases shortens one’s attention span. All of these factors result in loss of time and a slow learning process. Finally, while some students are worried about the effect of these technical issues on online exams, others are concerned with the fairness of them being evaluated solely by their online performance.

Distance learning is challenging, yet it has the needed tools to offer a professional learning medium in a more technologically, economically and socially advanced country. Hence, an alternative to ameliorate the negative aspects of online learning in Lebanon is needed. There are several solutions that can be taken into consideration in order to make e-learning more effective and beneficial. One of the alternatives suggested by a student is to let professors record sessions and upload them along with PowerPoint presentations on Blackboard instead of presenting the class live. Later on, the live classes via Skype for Business can be used for a Q & A session in case students needed further explanations.

Students in India also faced many problems when it came to online learning, mainly due to lack of facilities and limited digital access.

A key to online learning is availability of internet & devices at home which many people still do not have. How does the Govt expect a proportion bunch of students to complete their studies without these facilities?#SpeakUpForStudents pic.twitter.com/m1jG2bSmIY

— 𝙰.𝙽.𝙽𝚊𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚓𝙶𝚘𝚠𝚍𝚊🇮🇳ಎ.ಎನ್.ನಟರಾಜ್ ಗೌಡ (@annatarajgowda) July 10, 2020

 

Despite all the mentioned challenges, students need to cope with distance learning because staying safe at home is a priority. It is our social responsibility to stay distanced to be able to overcome this pandemic as soon as possible. Perhaps in the last few weeks, universities and schools in some countries reopened, however we can’t deny the fact online learning will still play a large role in the future of the educational sector worldwide.